Theatre Sacrifice Ritual: Exploring Forms of Political Theatre

<p>In this fascinating volume, acclaimed theatre historian Erika Fischer-Lichte reflects on the role and meaning accorded to the theme of sacrifice in Western cultures as mirrored in particular fusions of theatre and ritual. <em>Theatre, Sacrifice, Ritual</em> presents a radical re-definition of ritual theatre through analysis of performances as diverse as:</p><ul> <li>Max Reinhardt's new people's theatre</li> <li>the mass spectacles of post-revolutionary Russia</li> <li>American Zionist pageants</li> <li>the Olympic Games.</li> </ul><p>In offering both a performative and a semiotic analysis of such performances, Fischer-Lichte expertly demonstrates how theatre and ritual are fused in order to tackle the problem of community-building in societies characterised by loss of solidarity and disintegration, and exposes the provocative connection between the utopian visions of community they suggest, and the notion of sacrifice. </p><p>This innovative study of twentieth-century performative culture boldly examines the complexities of political theatre, propaganda and manipulation of the masses, and offers a revolutionary approach to the study of theatre and performance history.</p> Preface, Acknowledgements, Prologue: Electra’s transgressions, PART I The search for origins to outline a utopian vision of the future, PART II Mass spectacles between the Wars – in search of a collective identity, PART III Dismembering tradition, Notes, Bibliography, Subject index, Author index